Emergency call heard star was not breathing

POP legend Michael Jackson was unconscious, unresponsive and not breathing when an emergency call was made from his home two hours before he was pronounced dead at 2.26pm in an Los Angeles medical centre on Thursday.

According to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, Jackson, who was due to play 50 farewell concerts in London this summer, suffered a cardiac arrest.

It was an inconsequential ending to a exceptional life that was marred by both success and shame in equally extreme measures.

The series of events leading up to Jackson’s untimely demise began at 12.21pm when an emergency call came in from his residence in Holmby Hills, LA.

The caller said he needed an ambulance “as soon as possible”, according to the recording released by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

During the call, the man said: “Sir, we have a gentleman here that needs help and he’s not breathing.

“He’s not breathing and we’re trying to pump him, but he’s not ... he’s not breathing. He’s not conscious, sir.”

Captain Steve Ruda, of Los Angeles Fire Department also reported that Jackson was not breathing and had no pulse when paramedics arrived.

Emergency cardiologists attempted to resuscitate the singer for more than one hour but he was completely unresponsive.

Jackson, 50, was then taken to UCLA Medical Centre, 4km away and a spokesman for the hospital said when he arrived at approximately 1.14pm a team of doctors, including emergency physicians and cardiologists, attempted to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour but were unsuccessful.

Speaking to US TV station CNN on Thursday Michael’s brother Marlon Jackson revealed that his brother had complained about feeling unwell the previous night.

“I talked to Frank Dileo, Michael’s manager. Frank told me that Michael last night was complaining about not feeling well. He called to tell him he wasn’t feeling well,” he said.

“Michael’s doctor went over to see him, and Frank said, ‘Marlon, from last night to this morning, I don’t know what happened.’

“When they got to him this morning, he wasn’t breathing.

“They rushed him to the hospital and couldn’t bring him around.”

Jermaine Jackson said he believed the 50-year-old singer suffered the heart attack at his Holmby Hills home in Los Angeles on Thursday.

“My brother, the legendary King of Pop, passed away on Thursday June 25 at 2.26pm,” he said.

“We believe he suffered a cardiac arrest at his home.

“However, the cause of his death is unknown until the results of the autopsy are known.

“The personal physician who was with him at the time attempted to resuscitate him.”

Fears were sparked for Jackson’s health last month when four of his This Is It concert dates were pushed back but organisers insisted the dates were moved due to the sheer magnitude of the spectacle.

Jackson, who in 2005 was acquitted of child molestation charges, leaves three children, Michael Joseph Jackson Junior, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II.